Locomotive fire box



H. J. HIMMELRIGHT.

LOCOMOTWE FIREBOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1917.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922;

l 2 SHEETSSHET I.

Smoewbo'v M /MMW' R. LxHlMMELRIGHT.

LOCOMOTIVE FIREBOX.

-APPLICA TION FILED MAY 4. 19!].

Patnted Jan. 3, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

sar eerie RALEIGH 3. HIMMELRIGET, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO AMERICAN ARCH COMPANY, F NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

LOCOMOTIVE FIRE BOX.

Applicationtfiled May 4,

To all whom it may con-061m:

Be it known that I, RALEIGH J. HIMMEL- RIGHT, a citizen of the United States,- residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive Fire Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locomotive fire boxes and particularly to that type of fire box provided with a refractory arch or baffle tained in alignment by means of key members, such members, however, being relieved of the greater part of the weight of the.

arch.

The foregoing, together with such other.

objects as may hereinafter appear, or are incident to my invention, I obtain by means of a construction which I have illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein 7 Figure 1 is an irregular horizontal section taken on the line II of the fire box of Fig. 2 embodying my inventions; Fig. 2-is' a vertical section through the fire box shown in Figure 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the.

line nr rrr of Figure 2; Fig. 4. is an enlarged sectional detail showing themethod of supporting the arch from the side sheets and also showing the key members; Fig. 5 is abottom plan View of one of the key members; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of one of the bricks constituting the arch; and Figure 7 is a sectional detail showing the manner inwhich the forward ends of the key members are mounted in the front water leg.

In locomotive fire boxes of the general type to which this invention relates, it has been customary to provide an arch or baffle composed of a plurality of arch bricks ar- Specification of Letters Patent. Patgntgd Jan. 3, 1922 1917. Serial No. 166,306.

ranged in rows and supported onthe circulation tubes connecting the front and rear water legs of the fire box, or on similar members mounted in the fire box, such members as a rule supporting theentire load of the arch. V

In the first place, I propose to introduce an additional quantity of air into a fire box having this general arrangement of sectional arch to secure advantages herein pointed out, and in the next place to mount the bricks in such manner that practically the entire weight of the arch is supported from the side sheets, the bricks being maintained in alignment by key members, such key members,-

if desired, being utilized as the means for introducing the additional quantity of air.

On referring to Figures l, 2, and 8, it will be seen that the fire box comprises the usual fiue sheet 7, side sheets 8 back sheet 9, and

, crown sheet 10, the fines 11 extending'forwardly from the line sheet 7 through the waist 12. The water legs of the fire box are closed by the usual mud ring 18. p i

The arch which I have indicated: as a whole at A, is composedv of a plurality of side rows of arch bricks a, middle rows Z),

and intermediate rows 0, the wing bricks or side rows a being supported at their outer ends on pro] ectlons A on the side sheets, the central rows 7) and the intermedlate rows 0 being keyed and'interlocked'into.the form Y of an arch of inverted V-shape, the load of which is transmitted to the side sheets, in a manner to be now set forth; I

I mount a plurality, of thimbles 15 inthe front water leg, the ends of the thimbles being expanded in the flue sheet and throat:

sheet. The ends of the key members 16, preferably formed of pipes, are adapted to project into the thimbles in the manner indicated in Figure 7. These'key members 16 extend rearwardly and upwardly.

Each of the bricks constituting. the side rows a and the intermediate rows 0 of the arch has a groove. 17 formed in the face of each end, but eachof the bricks constituting.

the middle rows b-has such a'g'roove formed only in the face of the outerv end; At-their inner ends the bricks of the central rows have an interlocking tongue and groove as indicated at 18 in Figure 3.

The bricks are assembled as follows. wing or side bricks are positioned between The j the side sheets and their respective key members 16 by slipping the bricks longitudinally of the key member and over the row of projections 14, and the bricks of theintermediate rows and of the central rows are slipped into position lengthwise of the key members 16. When all of the bricks are assembled the resultant arch is of inverted ll-shape withiits outer ends carried 011 the projections of the side sheets, and with the upper edges ofthe bricks contacting with each other. By this arrangement an arch effect is obtained between the various rows of bricks, which is of such character that practically the greater part of the load. of

the arch is carried on the side sheets, the key members 16 serving merely to keep the bricks of the various rows in alignment with each. other and coacting with the bricks in a mutually interdependent relation to prevent collapse of thearch.

I am aware that it has been previously contemplated to support arch bricks from studs or projections on the side sheets. Such constructions have been usually of two kinds. In one type the arch was composed of one brick, usually of arch form, extend ing entirely across the fire box, or of a plurality of bricks arranged side by side, and each extending entirely across the arch. "In the second type,the arch was of the generaloinverted V-shape type, but the bricks extended half way across the fire box and their ends either bore against'each other or were interlocked. By my improved construction, however, I am enabled to divide the arch into more thantwo transverse sections, and-still retain the advantage of supporting the arch from the side sheets, while other additional advantages are obtained,

such for example, as reduction in the size of bricks which simplifies manufacture and makes the bricks easy to assemble and re,

move as well as obtaining other advantages well known in this art. The side bricks cover up the projections so that the latter will not burn out.

My improved form of arch is peculiarly adapted for the introduction of an addi tional supply of air over the fire for the purpose of securing more economical con sumption of fuel and better combustion of gases with the resultant increase in general efficiency. I secure "these results by providing in the under faces of the key members 16, a plurality of jets orholes 19. The

suction in the fire box supplemented by the natural draftset up through" the thimbles 15, when the locomotive is in motion causes additional air to fiowintothe hollow members 16.and pass out through the jets 19 over the fire beneath the arch. When the key members are thus used for the introductionof additional air, I slightly bevel 0d the lower portions of the ends of the :the parts will be self-supporting,

bricks as indicated at 20 in Figures 1, 3, 1, and 6, so as to permit free escape of air through the jets 19.

If desired the under faces of the bricks may be recessed as at 21 to secure more intimate admixture of the gases and air. It is not necessary that the ends of the key members 16 extend into the thimbles 15, but this is preferred as it makes assemblage easier because it provides a temporary meansfor holding the key members while the first few bricks are put in place, it being observed in this connection that it is desirable to assemble the arch bricks by slipping in the first brick of a side row and then slipping in-all of the first bricks of the other rows, completely across the fire box, and then putting in the second brick of each row and so on. When thus assembled, it will be seen that after the first few bricks are in place, the load is transmitted to the side sheets and no weight iscarried by the key members and consequently but little strain placed on the thimbles. During installation it is only necessary to support the key members until a transverse row or? two of bricks is or are in place, after which in the manner above indicated. I

Another important'advantage of my invention resides in the fact that my improved arch readily accommodates itself to the dif- V ferences or variations of widths of fire boxes, which is not the case in certain of.

1. A side sheet-supported refractory baffle I or arch for locomotive fire boxes composed of a lurality of fire bricks arranged in rows longitudinally of the firebox, tubular key members between the .roWs for preventing" collapse of the arch, openings in the key members communicating with the-fire box, and a connection between the key members and the atmospherefor admitting air therethrou h to the life box.

box, of a refractory arch composed of a plurality of fire bricks, arranged in rows longitudinally of the fire box, the arch being sup,-

ported at its sides upon the side sheets, indehe combination with a locomotive fire.

pendent tubular key members between the rows provided with openings into the fire box, and a connection between the key members and the atmosphere. j 1 I 3. The combination with a locomotive fire box having a front water le of arefractory l arch composed of a plurality of bricks arranged in rows longitudinally of the fire box, the arch'being supported at its sides, a plurality of thimbles extending through the front Water leg and communicating with the atmosphere, a plurality of tubular key members between the rows extending into the thimbles and communicating therewith, and

openings in said members communicatin with the fire box.

i. The combination with a locomotive fire box, of a refractory arch composed of a plurality of fire bricks, arranged in rows longitudinally of the fire box, independent hollow key members between the rows provided with openings into the fire box, and connections between the key members and the atmosphere.

5. The combination with a locomotive fire box, of a refractory arch composed of a plurality of rows of fire bricks, hollow key members between the rows provided with openings into the fire box, and connections between the key members and the atmosphere.

6. In a fire box, a sectional arch compris ing in combination, spaced arch supporting means, a course of more than two bricks extending between the supporting means and key members between bricks which coact therewith in a mutually interdependent relation to prevent collapse of the arch.

'1 In a fire box, a sectional arch comprising in combination, spaced arch supporting means, a plurality of bricks arranged in a transverse course between the supporting means in substantially the form of an inverted V, and key members between the bricks at the sides of the apex of the V which coact therewith in a mutually interdependent relation to prevent collapse of the arch.

8. In a fire box, a sectional arch composed of a plurality of bricks arranged in courses transversely of the box and in more than two rows longitudinally of the box, and key members between rows extending throughout the courses and adapted to coact with the rows in a mutually interdependent relation to prevent collapse of the arch.

9. In a fire box, a sectional arch composed of a plurality of bricks arranged in courses transversely of the box and in more than two rows longitudinally of the box, key members between rows extending throughout the courses and adapted to coact with the rows in a mutually interdependent relation to prevent collapse of the arch, and means in the fire box structure for engaging the ends of the key members.

10. In a fire box having side sheets and a water leg, a sectional arch composed of a plurality of bricks arranged in courses transversely of the box and in more than two rows longitudinally of the box, said arch being supported from the side sheets, a plurality of thimbles in the water leg, and a plurality of key members between rows extending throughout the courses and projecting at one end into said thimbles and adapted to coact with the rows in a mutually interdependent relation to prevent collapse of the arch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

RALEIGH J. HIMMELRIGHT. 

